Manama, Nov. 15 (BNA)— "Peace is a human and an international requirement that must be concretized through practical steps," His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa said as he received today the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy and President of the International Peace Academy (IPA) Terje Roed-Larsen.

"Bahrain is interacting positively with international issues and backs all initiatives to promote peace and prevent anarchy and instability," he added.

"Targeting security and stability and undermining order can never be tolerated by any country. Despite the gravity of what happened, Bahrain has been able to handle the situation in a civilized manner and applied the same criteria embraced by advanced countries, including commitment to freedom of expression and protecting human rights," HRH the Prime Minister asserted.

"Despite the big democratic strides, the kingdom's development and reform process continues unabated. The voice of the Bahraini people is heard in Bahrain through their representatives at the parliament," he said adding that the parliament enjoys the same prerogatives found in developed countries.

"Nevertheless, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa launched the National Consensus Dialogue to emphasize that the doors of reform are always open and have never been shut. The move was followed by setting up the royal fact-finding commission, an unprecedented step by Bahrain to prove the genuine reform tendency."

HRH the Prime Minister hailed the role of the United Nations and its specialized organizations in supporting development worldwide through various initiatives.

He stressed Bahrain's keenness to devise new methods to promote the exemplary and strategic cooperation with the UN.

The UN official lauded the climate of freedom, democracy and institutional development in Bahrain.